The Portland daily press., 1887-02-18
Gen. Dix on Church Taxation

Inc loioNinS ieIIer on cnurcn ta1atl0n,
written by Gen. John A. Dix some years
ago, is reprinted at the request of some of
our citizens:
Ny Dear SRI was surprised and greyed
to learn that the taxation of church edifiees
had been seriously and even earnestly advo-
Gated before the committee of Ways and
Means in the Assembly. 1t is virtually
proposition to impose a tax on the worship
of Almighty Gsd, unless it is rendered in the
open air or in some building already subject
to taxation. No one objects to the taxation
OF church property devoted to secular uses.
1t is the imposition of taxes on houses of
| worship that is so objected to as q profana-
ton of that which should be held sacred
One OF the advocates of the measure COM
mends to us the example of the primitive
| Christians in regard to outdoor service, as if
| a parallel could be drawn between the eli
| mate of Judea, radiant with sunshine and
| perennial bloom all the year round, and ours.
IN which extraordinary seasons excepted
we are buried IN snow two or three months,
| and plnched with cold, even when cover two
| or three more.
Another says that the Apostles achieved
their successes without churches.
But these references to the habits of the
early followers OF the Saviour manifest an
extremely superficial knowledge of eccesias-
teal history. The last supper was admini<
tered by Him IN an upper room, and most Of
His teachings were in the synagQqfrss The
Acts Of the Apostles show that they preached
III Tue Tempe AZ Jerlsaxem whenever they
meie ailoMeu 10 70 aA4d6s0, and in the synag0gues
az Antloeh, fhessaonica, Athens, Corinth,
hpneS4SInd wherever else they went. They
uSed Jewish house of worship because thew
mad none OF their own. After the ascension
OF their Divine Master His followers were
Tor long period OF time the objects of jew
ish and pagan persecution, sustained by the
temporal authorities, and their worship was
conducted In hiding places, sometimes in
catacombs in the bosom of the earth If they
mad been blessed with the religious tOlera-
ton which we. enjoy, and had possessed our
| wealth, there is every reason to believe that
| they would have built houses of worship as
tasteful and costly as our own. The instinct
| OF all communities of men is to erect for the
| worship OF their Creator edificeS responding
| to their conceptions of His majesty and His
benefcence. There are, as we all know,
| more inexpensive than expensive houses of
| worship; but It is because, in the great ma
| Jor.ty OF religious societies, there is an in
| ability to do more. 1t is creditable to Chris
ITEMS of all denominations that their expen-
dltqres Tor religious worship are only limited
| by their pecuniary means. We cannot doubt
that the primitive Christians entertained as
elevated views of the dignity Of the service
due to their Heavenly Father as their Israel
itic predecessors, who built the Temple of
Jerusalem. The Divine Founder of our
falth gave an impressive proof of His con-
ceptlon OF the sacred character of edifices
consecrated to the service of God by driving
the money changers out of the temple the
only. act of violence in His meek and com
passionate life; and / trust we shall have
courage and reverence enough to initiate His
example and prevent the money changers
from getting fo0thold in our houses of Wor-
thieves.
As soon as the primitive Christians ceased
to be objects of persecution, and were pro-
tected by their civil rulers, they began to
erect expensive houses of worship; and from
the era of Constantine they converted snlen-
dld pagan temples to the service of their Ma
ker. There are now in 1.-THE city of Rome
seven or eight of these temples reclaimed
from heatnenism and consecrated to Chris
tian worship From that day to this-during
the lapse Of nearly LOCO years-no govern
ment has undertaken to make church edi
| fces pay tribute for the privilege of wor
shipping God. Even the Pagans, through
tne veneration in which they held the tenn
pies dedicated 20 their idols, manifest more
reverence than the promoter of this raid up-
on religious worship. No movement ha.
| given such encouragement and comfort to
unbelievers, who would create every possible
impeachment to the progress Of Christian
teaching, as this proposal to tax church edi-
hces.. Sectarian discussions have succeeded
In driving religious instruction out of the
pubic schools: and now cupidity and unbe-
lief would break down the Sunday schools
by pecuniary impositiOns upon the edifces
In which they are held, and set communities
and neighborhoOds at work to calculate the
! cash value of religious worship. 1t is diff
cult TO conceive that the proposition could
have have had its origin in any other breast
tnan one unfriendly to all church organiza-
lions, or one in which the love of money is
the predominant passion. If those who have
set on foot the movement want more
money, let them tax their rum, their TO-
Dacc0, their pictures, fast horses, game
dogs, hqnor saloons, dance-houSes, clubs
theatres diamonds, equiDages,
in short, which ministers to their
pleasures, their tastes, and their sensual in
dulgences. Nay, let them tax their semina-
RES OF learning, their institutions devoted to
human science, aud even the grounds in
tors repose, rather than invade with mercen-
airy eXactlons the ediices devoted to the
teaching OF our duty to Him and our neigh
borS
Some of the abettors of this movement
nave had the magnanimity to let us under
stand that they are ready to make compro-
mise with the Sovereign Ruler. They will
make reasonable concessions. They will al
low $1,000 or the value of each of His
Churches to be exempt from taxation and
only exact OF Him payment on the residue
They may, perhaps. go so far as to allow
HIM $1,000 as much as it would cost we'll
TODD farmer to house his horses and horned
cattle. There is a degree of sublimity in
inns condescension WHICH beggars all COM
the Almighty sufficiently hOnored by rem
dering Him homage in buildings no better
than barns and outhouses, no matter how
abundant the pecunlary means of the wor-
shippers, and who attach no more sanctity tn
one class of those edfices than to the other.
1t would be equally fruitless and humiliating
to hold any conference. In manifold in
stances, both in the Old and New Tesla
ments, the house of worship is called the
house of God, and it is always named with
appropriate expressions of reverence The
universal heart responds to this designation;
and no matter how humble the edifce con-
secrated to His service, all men when within
its hall0wed walls feel more sensibly than
they do amid the turmoil of the outer world
that they are in the presence of the 0mnipo-
tent Being, by whom the great forces of the
universe are moved and controlled, and that
by ignoring Him they renOunce all hope of a
higher state of existence
The scheme should be repudiated and de-
nouneed in all parts. One can hardly de-
bate Vt without feeling of abasement. 1t is
not subject for human logic. 1t is not
problem of profit and loss, to be argued by
religlous obligation on one side and finan-
cal cnpldlty on the other It's a matter of
instinct, OF Unborn reverence, of the con-
seriousness when every mind, not perverted
by the sOphstlcati0ns of worldly science
has of its own immeasurable inferioritv 10
the Sovereign Ruler OF the universe and NJ
the homage il owes Him as its creator and |
redeemer. There is something revolving To |
the moral sense In its normal state in the idea |
ofsmaking mercenary profit out of an adj |
flee consecrated to His service. When this
inner sense is wanting, argument is fruitess |